WAR IN HEAVEN From "Endtimeministries.com".
Revelation 12:7 says, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.” It is very interesting when you find parallel passages of scripture. Now this passage in verse 7 about the war in heaven is located in the book of Revelation written about 96 AD. The same incident was recorded 700 years prior to 96 AD, approximately 600 BC by Daniel in Daniel 12:1.
Daniel 12:1 says, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: [Now we have Michael standing up in Revelation 12 and fighting against the dragon and we have Michael standing up in Daniel 12:1. Remember this passage was being addressed to Daniel, and Daniel was a Jew. This prophecy is specifically referring to the Jewish people when it says the children of thy people.] and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [This refers to the time called the Great Tribulation. We are going to see later that Jesus Christ uses almost the exact same terminology when He talks about a time of tribulation such as never has been before, nor ever again shall be.
We are discussing in Revelation 12 when the war in heaven begins to occur. This is the event that begins the Great Tribulation. In Daniel 12 when Michael stands up, it is the event that begins the Great Tribulation, because there shall be a time of trouble such as there never was before. Then Daniel 12:1 continues to say God's people will be delivered.] even to that thy people [The Jews] shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” So when it refers to “thy people” it is referring to Israel. The Bible says that the dragon went to make war against the woman, Israel. Every indicator points to the fact that the woman clothed with the sun is a symbol of the nation of Israel. Revelation 12:7-9 says,
The next question is when will this war which is prophesied take place? Many people have thought that this was has already occurred. Let’s look at the Revelation 12:10 to see if we can understand whether this war is passed or whether it is an event yet to occur. It is my opinion that this is an event that will take place yet in the very near future. I believe it will happen very shortly now. Your life will be affected by it and so will mine. Revelation 12:10 says, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
Revelation 12:13-14 says, “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [Israel] which brought forth the man child. [Jesus Christ] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” When he is cast down, Satan launches his persecution called the Great Tribulation. The woman is given wings of a great eagle. This is the reason that I think that could speak of an American airlift is because at that time that is to be fulfilled which is just ahead of us, the nation that has the greatest airlift capabilities in the world is the nation whose official symbol is the eagle. It is on the back of your one dollar bill. That same nation is Israel’s only friend. I can’t teach that it is going to be an airlift. I cannot tell you that infallibly, but I tend to think that America will intervene for these people at a very crucial time.
I personally have made up in my mind—I have a friend, who is a friend to President Clinton. He has been on Air Force 1 with him and he’s slept in the Whitehouse during his administration. I heard it on the news and I know others have as well. So, I have made up in mind, if I see all of this coming to pass and I know that the time has arrived, I am going to go to my friend and say, now, look we have to pull all of our chips in now. We have to talk to the President and we have to tell him what he has to do. Now why would that be strange to us? Has it not happened throughout history? Did not Daniel and Nehemiah go to the king and say it is time to build the temple? I am telling you the exact same thing is getting ready to happen again. Whether you and I are direct participants are not isn’t what is important but what is important is that God is working in the earth at this time and He is going to accomplish His purpose. Don’t you worry about it. His purpose will be accomplished. The only thing that we have to worry about is being a part of it and let’s make sure that we are on the Lord’s side. So the woman is nourished for a time, times, and half a time. Now remember the point, the casting down of Satan begins the Great Tribulation.
Let’s look at it from another angle. We also can know that the Abomination of Desolation begins the Great Tribulation. Matthew 24:15-16 says, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.” and Revelation 24:21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” So at the casting down of Satan it launches a time, times and half a time tribulation. At the time of the Abomination of Tribulation it launches a Great Tribulation such as never has been before nor ever again shall be. So this puts the casting down of Satan and the Abomination of Desolation at the same time. Both of them mark the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
Notice that the war in heaven also is specifically described as triggering the Great Tribulation. Daniel 12:1 says, ” And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, [It isn't all bad news.] every one that shall be found written in the book. [The Lamb's book of Life]” Some of the Jewish people will have their name written in the Lamb’s book of Life. So the war in heaven and the Abomination of Desolation occur at approximately the same time. It appears that they are almost simultaneous.
We are discussing in Revelation 12 when the war in heaven begins to occur. This is the event that begins the Great Tribulation. In Daniel 12 when Michael stands up, it is the event that begins the Great Tribulation, because there shall be a time of trouble such as there never was before. Then Daniel 12:1 continues to say God's people will be delivered.] even to that thy people [The Jews] shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” So when it refers to “thy people” it is referring to Israel. The Bible says that the dragon went to make war against the woman, Israel. Every indicator points to the fact that the woman clothed with the sun is a symbol of the nation of Israel. Revelation 12:7-9 says,
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [This shows the casting out or banishment of Satan from heaven.] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: [Did you see what it said? We should not be astonished that the world is so deceived. The Bible says that the devil would deceive the whole world.] he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”The Bible specifically tells us that Satan has one-third of the angels of heaven. Satan was a real trouble maker in heaven. He sowed discord among the angels and one out of three were deceived by Satan. No wonder the Bible says the very elect would be deceived if possible. If the devil could deceive an angel then he could deceive you and I unless we really keep our eyes upon what the truth is.
The next question is when will this war which is prophesied take place? Many people have thought that this was has already occurred. Let’s look at the Revelation 12:10 to see if we can understand whether this war is passed or whether it is an event yet to occur. It is my opinion that this is an event that will take place yet in the very near future. I believe it will happen very shortly now. Your life will be affected by it and so will mine. Revelation 12:10 says, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
So when does the casting down of Satan occur? Revelation 12:12 says, “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” When Satan is cast down, he will know that he has but a short time. When he comes down having great wrath, this happens when he only has a little bit of time left. The Great Tribulation is the wrath of Satan not the wrath of God. Many people have thought the Great Tribulation is the wrath of God. This scripture plainly says, Satan has come down to you having great wrath, because he knows he has but a short time. The Great Tribulation will be Satan’s wrath upon the earth. Following the Great Tribulation is a very brief period of time that is called the wrath of God upon the earth. Those are two different things. The casting down of Satan begins the period known as the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 12:13-14 says, “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [Israel] which brought forth the man child. [Jesus Christ] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” When he is cast down, Satan launches his persecution called the Great Tribulation. The woman is given wings of a great eagle. This is the reason that I think that could speak of an American airlift is because at that time that is to be fulfilled which is just ahead of us, the nation that has the greatest airlift capabilities in the world is the nation whose official symbol is the eagle. It is on the back of your one dollar bill. That same nation is Israel’s only friend. I can’t teach that it is going to be an airlift. I cannot tell you that infallibly, but I tend to think that America will intervene for these people at a very crucial time.
I personally have made up in my mind—I have a friend, who is a friend to President Clinton. He has been on Air Force 1 with him and he’s slept in the Whitehouse during his administration. I heard it on the news and I know others have as well. So, I have made up in mind, if I see all of this coming to pass and I know that the time has arrived, I am going to go to my friend and say, now, look we have to pull all of our chips in now. We have to talk to the President and we have to tell him what he has to do. Now why would that be strange to us? Has it not happened throughout history? Did not Daniel and Nehemiah go to the king and say it is time to build the temple? I am telling you the exact same thing is getting ready to happen again. Whether you and I are direct participants are not isn’t what is important but what is important is that God is working in the earth at this time and He is going to accomplish His purpose. Don’t you worry about it. His purpose will be accomplished. The only thing that we have to worry about is being a part of it and let’s make sure that we are on the Lord’s side. So the woman is nourished for a time, times, and half a time. Now remember the point, the casting down of Satan begins the Great Tribulation.
Let’s look at it from another angle. We also can know that the Abomination of Desolation begins the Great Tribulation. Matthew 24:15-16 says, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.” and Revelation 24:21, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” So at the casting down of Satan it launches a time, times and half a time tribulation. At the time of the Abomination of Tribulation it launches a Great Tribulation such as never has been before nor ever again shall be. So this puts the casting down of Satan and the Abomination of Desolation at the same time. Both of them mark the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
Notice that the war in heaven also is specifically described as triggering the Great Tribulation. Daniel 12:1 says, ” And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, [It isn't all bad news.] every one that shall be found written in the book. [The Lamb's book of Life]” Some of the Jewish people will have their name written in the Lamb’s book of Life. So the war in heaven and the Abomination of Desolation occur at approximately the same time. It appears that they are almost simultaneous.
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